it to good use and struck gold. 23 inches underground he found a 12-pound gold nugget. the man says he'll sell the nugget to the highest bidder. it's worth about $295,000. so far, though, there's been a few bids on the gold but nothing high enough for the seller. the news now keeps coming, brian bolter with the news edge at 11:00. >> starting the new year off with a new plan focused on taxicab customer convenience, the d.c. cab commission about to vote on requiring cabbies to accept credit and debit cards. it's an about face from a plan to install the total smart meter system. fox 5's karen gray houston has the details. >> the d.c. taxicab commission is switching gears. early last fall the mayor and commission were pushing the smart meter system to upgrade the taxi industry, but a proposed contract became entangled with legal problems

after two companies that lost bids protested. now the commission is going another direction. if you take taxis in the district, you may have ridden with a driver who accepts debit and credit cards. over 1,000 progressive cabbies are using advanced technology to give passengers a break. some are using iphones. >> reporter: how does this work? >> it's working. i use my phone. it's quiet. >> reporter: that's the name of the app? >> yes. it's quiet. >> reporter: apparently it's easy as pie and if you give the driver your e-mail, you can get a receipt. other cabbies bought into digital reservation companies that also provide credit card service devices. the remaining 6,000 taxi drivers who operate on a cash only basis may be about to see a change. chairman ron linton says the taxicab commission will vote next week on emergency rules that will require all cabs to accept credit and debit cards. >> we that know the experience in other cities is that

gratuities rise as the number of rides cram. >> reporter: the reaction on the streets is mixed. >> i have an issue about credit cards. >> i don't like credit cards. >> there are some businesses in the district that do not accept credit cards. i am in business. why would i accept a credit card when it would not benefit me in the long run? >> i'm hoping i will make more money, but the bottom line is the demand of the people. >> we have to have the demand of the people. >> reporter: and the people say? >> them being forced to do it? i don't know how i feel about them being forced to do it, but them accepting cash makes my life easier. >> reporter: taking the emergency rule regulatory route is a shift from last august when mayor vincent gray was promoting the total smart meter system that would have included a flat screen video with gps visibility. some cabbies didn't like the tracking technology.

the chairman ron linton expects the commission to adopt the emergency regulations next thursday. he said they studied smart meter technology and said it's not in the public interest to pursue that with all the procurement problems. the other big story tonight, the excitement buzzing ahead of president obama's inauguration sunday, the private one. people from all over the country have arrived to d.c. for the festivities. even though the big event is on monday there's plenty to keep people entertained before and after. >> reporter: the doors hadn't even opened yet and people were lining up outside blues alley in georgetown to hear dawn and mack from the r and b girl group in vogue perform. their shows are sold out which is one reason operations director chris ross is loving this inauguration weekend already. >> we had some people came in last night late like we're here

from chicago for the inauguration, let's party. so it's starting. it has begun. >> reporter: these two friends met while working on president obama's campaign four years ago. they've reunited in d.c. at hamilton's bar and restaurant for the start of a within of celebrating. did you come to the last inauguration? >> i did. i was here last time and it was magical. >> reporter: both women worked on the president's reelection campaign, too. so now kristen can get a taste of the inauguration excitement, too. >> it was the atmosphere that everyone really loved and it was contagious and just the energy and excitement and i really want to experience that. >> reporter: at hamilton's nearly the entire staff will be on hand the next four days to accommodate the inauguration crowds. they're one of about 160 bars and restaurants with extended hours through next tuesday. >> friday through monday we're open till 4 a.m. the bars will be open till then and 3 a.m. we will serve our full menu until then as well. >> reporter: with all the downtown hotspots decked out in their red, white and blue

bunting the bell sisters from miami couldn't click their photos fast enough and they're filled with excitement about what's to come during the rest of this inauguration weekend. >> the people, the historical experience and just the overall gladness of obama getting reelected. we're learning about more of the a list talent coming to town for monday's festivities. alicia keys, brad paisley, chris cornell, jennifer hudson and marc anthony will perform at the commander in chief's ball. stay with fox 5 for complete coverage of monday's inauguration all day long both on air and online at www.myfoxdc.com. we will broadcast the swearing in ceremony and the parade that follows live. the fox 5 morning team kicks off coverage bright and early at 4 a.m. the debate over raising the country's debt creel appears to be put on -- ceiling appears to

be put on hold. republicans allowed they'll vote on a short term measure to allow the country to meet its obligations. >> reporter: following a republican rereceipt in virginia gop leaders announced -- retreat in virginia gop leaders announced they are backing away from a fight on the debt ceiling. >> we are going to move in the short term so people do not have a fear of where we are economically and be able to move forward to try and solve this problem once and for all. >> reporter: republicans will vote next week to extend the borrowing limit for three months. they'll make the measure contingent on the senate passing a budget which it hasn't done since 2009 and they'll insist members of congress don't get paid until the federal budget is agreed to. house speaker john boehner told his party we are going to pursue strategies that will obligate the senate to finally join the house in confronting government's spending problem. the principle is simple. no budget, no way. the white house released a statement saying it is encouraged that congressional republicans may back off their insistence on holding our

economy hostage, a temporary extension would avert an immediate crisis since the country is set to reach its debt limit as early as mid- february. >> default is not an acceptable option. congress has to simply do its job and pay the bills they've already racked up. >> reporter: all of this sets the stage for even bigger battles ahead when lawmakers have to revisit this issue and deal with automatic spending cuts and the possibility of a partial government shutdown when another temporary measure ex perils the end of march. in -- expires the end of march, in washington jennifer davis, fox news. attorney general eric holder is defending president obama's gun control plan, many arguing the president is violating the constitution with his 23 executive orders, but molder dismisses those attacks and said he's -- holder dismisses those attacks and said he's asking every governor across the country to back the president's stance. >> many of you are trying to heed and honor the lesson from

sandy hook school. >> meanwhile hundreds of mayors have joined new york city mayor's plan to push congress to act. now it's round two of lance armstrong's tell all interview with oprah winfrey. after admitting to using performance enhancing drugs last night tonight the former cyclist opened up about admitting his demons and being hopeful for second chances. >> i can't lie to you. i'd love the opportunity to compete. that isn't the reason i'm doing this. frankly, this may not be the most popular answer, but i think i deserve it, maybe not right now, but if you look at the situation and you look at the culture and the sport and you see the punishment, that's why i told you if i could go back to that time and say okay, you're trading my story for a six-month suspension? that's what people got. >> which is what other people got. >> what everybody got.

so i got a death penalty and they got -- >> meaning you can never compete again. >> in anything and i'm not saying that that's unfair necessarily, but i'm saying it's different. >> armstrong has been stripped of all his titles, stripped of his 2000 olympic bronze medal and was forced to end relations with his charity live strong. still ahead. >> let freedom ring from the snow capped rockies of colorado! >> stop local students find a special way to honor martin luther king, jr. >> plus no more baring it all foot tsa, what changes -- for the tsa, what changes are coming to airports nationwide. >> this is fox 5 news edge at 11:00. 

in honor of the late martin luther king, jr. and the inauguration students from watkins elementary school in the district recited his i have a dream speech. they read the famous message on the steps of the lin on memorial today. fox ever -- lincoln memorial today. fox 5's photojournalist steve jones was there today. >> but 100 years later the negro still is not free. >> it does make the speech fun because you get to learn about all the people who made your life better. >> soldiers have come fresh from their jail cells. >> and some of you have come

from areas where a quest, quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. >> lots of them came from areas where they wanted to be free, but the people got in their way. >> let freedom ring from the snow capped rockies of colorado. >> let freedom ring from the courageous vaults of california. >> but not only that. let freedom ring from the stone mountains of georgia. >> is in so important for the kids to -- this is so important for the kids to really know their history and why they go to the schools that they go to. >> it was really inspiring to do it because i know that a great man once said these words. >> and when this happens when we allow freedom to ring. when we allow it to ring from every village, every hamlet, every state and every city. >> we will be able to speed up that day when all of god's children, black men, white men, jews and gentiles, protestants and catholics will join hands

and sing in the words of the old negro spiritual free at last, free at last, thank god almighty we are free at last! [ cheering and applause ] >> that was great. getting exact change at the atm, saying good-bye to x ray scanners at the airport and how to stay updated through the inauguration festivities, maureen umeh has your fox 5 top five. >> no more rounding to the nearest 20 at some atms, no. 5 two banks are upgrading their atms. chase and pnc are outfitting thousands of the machines to give out 1 and $5 bills to customers. some will even give out coins. the upgrades are expected by year end. no. 4, honda is off to a rough for 2013 recalling 750 million vehicles for air bag defects including pilot crossovers from 2009 and 2013 and odyssey minivans from 2011

and 2013. honda drivers should take their vehicle to their dealer for inspection. known 3, the tsa is remove -- no. 3, the tsa is removing more than 100 full body scanners in airports across the u.s. replaced by less intrusive software that doesn't show full body images of passengers. no. 2, the first pediatric flu death in the state has been confirmed. the baltimore area child died last month and tested positive for influenza. nationally nine other children or teens have died bringing the total number of deaths this flu season to 29. no. 1, u.s. park police urge people heading to the inauguration monday to opt into a text alert program. the so-called alerts will rely important messages directly to cell phones from viewing area open closings to any type of

missing persons. to opt in text inauguration to 888-7777 and that is tonight's fox 5 top five. here we go cruising into the weekend, a little warm-up. >> enjoy. they know. they've heard the weather 15 times today, but it's getting cold coming up next week. some true arctic air will make a run for us. it starts coming in real strong tuesday, wednesday probably into thursday when we'll feel the brunt of that real cold stuff. here's your weekend forecast. enjoy the 40s. problem is it's going to be a little breezy, winds 20 to 25 tomorrow. i think it will be that way sunday, too. even though we'll have plenty of sunshine both days the coldest of the air will stay north this weekend with that arctic air staying to the north leaving us in the 40s but

breezy. that's kind of the headlines for the weekend, beautiful but breezy. cold stuff settles in next week and tuesday, wednesday, maybe thursday, too we'll be trying real hard to get the temperatures for highs up to freezing. it's going to be breezy, too. so the tuesday, wednesday and thursday is just going to feel miserable with the cold weather. at this point it looks dry. it looks like we'll have a good amount of sunshine as well. what about monday? it's a cold start monday morning, 30 degrees, a couple clouds and progressing through the day we'll get more clouds building, be a little breezy as well. wind will be the trend i think the next several days. 37 degrees for lunchtime and then by 4:00 just about the time the parade usually is wrapping up we'll be right around 36 degrees. there will be a few snow showers. this won't amount to anything, but with this real cold air starting to push in it's going

to squeeze out a little moisture and probably bring some snow streamers down from the north and west. whether or not they get all the way to town, again i can't promise that, but it's in the forecast for a few snow showers. 34 now, temperatures actually creeped up a little. gaithersburg 30, frederick 27. these temperatures will settle down a few more degrees from where they are now. we may see a couple spots in the suburbs where the numbers go into the lower 20s for a time, so real cold overnight tonight with the clear skies here. snow is to the north and all the way back out west generally have clear skies. high pressure is building in and again some warmer temperatures coming our way the next couple days. clear and cold tonight, some lower 20s out in the suburbs. otherwise the lows in the suburbs will be mostly in the 20s just like we are in town tonight. the numbers will eventually get down to the upper 20s. remember the chilly breeze this weekend. layer up.

even with temperatures in the 40s that will be real cold, breezy through the afternoon, loads of sunshine, temperatures both days this weekend mid- to upper 40s. look at the cold stuff come in on the fox 5 accuweather seven- day forecast. tuesday, wednesday, maybe the cold lingering into thursday as well. we'll certainly be in the 30s. we're having a hard time getting in the 30s tuesday when the brunt of that arctic air is here. lindsay murphy is in, the wizards tonight mile high, question is how well did they do at altitude? >> so clever. a little john wall never hurt anyone. boy, did the wizards miss their star point guard who has now been back three games after missing 33 and averaging 13 points and seven assists per game. he's elevated the play of rookie bradley beal. the wizards won three of their last four and tonight they'll try to end an eight-game road skid against the denver nuggets, nene's old team.

the duo of wall and beal so quick the camera could barely quick up. any hope of a wizards run in the 3rd quarter countered by ty lawson. the maryland native put up 23 point in the quarter. it was 87-78 nuggets, but the wizards rally in the 4th tied at 78-87, jordan crawford buried the three. the wiz go up three. right now they lead 108-106 with under 30 seconds to go. the capitals had six days to prepare for their season opener tomorrow night. in a rush following the lockout the team had to get to know a new head coach with a new system. they left this afternoon for tampa and tomorrow face division foe tampa bay lightning. there aren't too many new faces, so the transition has been pretty smooth. >> even the new guys fit in really well. near great guys. so we're luck -- they're great guys, so we're lucky we picked up a bunch of good ones. the guys are all still kind of feeling it from last year. we lost. we all thought we should have had a better result than we

did. we came up short the last few games, but we're all very excited. we've got a great team. i think we're a team to go far. we just got to play right and execute. while the nationals had a memorable season and division crown they had the most memorable loss in postseason against the cardinals in game five. this offseason the organization upped the ante signing a top notch center fielder, starting pitcher and closer. mike rizzo reflects on the future. >> we're a more well rounded team this year. we're very balanced with our offensive lineup. i think we're better defensively in the outfield, infield defense will be as good, if not better. our catching situation will still be solid. our rotation will be one more year experience. we'll be counting less on the three-run home run. we can manufacture runs more. we'll steal more bases. we'll be faster and more

athletic than in the past and our bullpen is going to be extremely difficult to deal with for other clubs. >> fans, go ahead and get those season tickets. they sound pretty good. when we come back, the terps face a critical acc test tomorrow. we'll hear from head coach mark turgeon after the break. but don't take our word for it -- ask a real fios customer. ask me why fiber optics matters. ask me about the upload speeds -- they're sick! [ male announcer ] so go online and send a tweet to a real fios customer. last chance to get fios for just $89.99 a month for 2 years with a 2-year agreement. plus get $300 back. visit got2getfios.com for america's fastest, most reliable internet. call the verizon center for customers with disabilities at 800-974-6006 tty/v.

it's a road trip kind of weekend for local hoops teams. georgetown plays tomorrow night at south florida at 6 p.m. the hoyas own a modest two game

winning streak. the terps away from comcast center for their acc showdown this weekend. the terps play four of their next six games on the road. they're in north carolina at chapel hill in noon coming off a thrilling win against nc state wednesday night. while some observers saw a struggling offense in that game, head coach mark turgeon saw the exact opposite. >> i was so impressed with our defense. it was amazing and for having such a new team and so many young guys to guard that way, it's so much talent. i know it was a hostile environment for them, but i feel like florida state got a lot of open looks. i felt like miami got fewer open looks and i feel like north carolina got fewer open looks, so we're getting there. just a heads up now, the wizards are leading 111-108 with two seconds left in the 4th quarter. >> also the terps have not won at north carolina since 2008. that's a wrap on sports.

go check out that wiz game. the news edge will be right back. good night. droid dna augmentation initiated. vision expanding to a 5-inch 1080p hd display and camera. touch acquiring nfc. hearing evolving with beats audio. wireless charging activated. introducing droid dna by htc. it's not an upgrade to your phone. it's an upgrade to yourself.

taking the edge off tonight with a piece of memorabilia die hard batman fans would love to get their hands on, the original batmobile. the car hits the auction block tomorrow in arizona. the car was bought for $1 in 1965 before it was customized for the batman tv series. the batmobile is expected to

rake in seven figures. now you have the news edge. news is always on www.myfoxdc.com. have a great weekend. see you.   >> fox 5 news isn't over. go to www.myfoxdc.com now for news, weather and entertainment updates. fox 5 news is washington's best news on air and online at www.myfoxdc.com brought to you by verizon 4g lte.